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NREPP SAMHSA'S National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices
IMPORTANT LEGACY NOTICE: Legacy Programs have not been reviewed by the current National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). The programs in this database were reviewed only under the previous National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs system. This section is intended to be used for historical reference only. If you would like more information about a program listed here, please contact the program developer directly. The program developer of each Legacy Program listed here agreed to post program information on this site.

Cognitive-Behavioral Coping Skills Therapy for Adolescent Substance Abuse

Brief Program Description

Cognitive-Behavioral Coping Skills Therapy for Adolescent Substance Abuse is a highly structured group intervention that teaches teens to identify and manage high-risk situations for drug use relapse. The intervention features didactic presentations, modeling, role-playing, and homework exercises. Participants learn problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, how to explore and express their feelings, and how to focus on the "here and now" to minimize thoughts and behavior that might lead to relapse. Participants must be able to read at the fifth-grade level or higher.

The treatment consists of 8-12 weekly 75-90 minute outpatient group sessions with a pair of master's- or doctoral-level clinicians trained in conducting the therapy and experienced in working with adolescents. Therapists study a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) manual and are given weekly feedback about their adherence to the treatment protocol.

The intervention is designed for and has been tested on 13- to 18-year-olds with substance use disorders. At posttreatment and 3-, 9-, and 15-month followup, participants had improved on all Teen-ASI subscales. Participants in interactional treatment comparison groups also improved. In one study, at 3-month followup, participants in CBT reported a significantly greater reduction in substance use than participants in interactional therapy. CBT participants also improved more in other functioning areas, though differences were not significant or replicated in a later study.

Contact Information

For indepth information on this program, please use the contact listed below.

Program Developer

Yifrah Kaminer, M.D., M.B.A.
Department of Psychiatry
University of Connecticut Health Center
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-2103
Phone: (860) 679-4344
Fax: (860) 679-4077
Email: kaminer@psychiatry.uchc.edu

In January 2004, this program was designated as a Promising Program under SAMHSA's previous National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs system.